Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 24 1926.

H. G. CLARK ET AL noosE LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 30, 1923 1f midi mllMnummmmuummmmm mnmmmm...

Aug. 24, 1926.

hairs-n STATES A 1,597,054 PATENT OFFICE.

G. oLAnY.,-oF nnv'ronnnn Lottie s. CLARK, orconmvines, onto.

Loom-LEAF ni innn.

Application filed 'octoher so; 192-. Serial No. 671,658.

Our invention relates to hook binding, and more particularly to a loose leaf binder and especially to the locking means by which the bookcove'rs or backs are detach'ably' en-.

gaged with the'lea'f retaining posts.

The present invention relates nrore par-' ticul'arly to that typeof loose leaf hinder hinge rod or trunnion pinbeing held in 0perative engagement wlth the posts or studs by a series of yokes pivoted upon the rod or are slotted for engagement with posts or the ends of pins, without passing them over the retaining members.

In the present invention there is. contemplated a metal leaf or hinge, which is incorpointed in the back or-cov'e'r of the book, and is provided with a hinge rod or-trunnion pin laterally engageable in alinednotches in a series of studs or posts extending perpendicularly through the leaves or sheets, such pin, and normally embracing the protruding ends of the posts or studs to retain the rod or pin in the notches thereof,- while the hinge plate and cover wing to'and iro Normally th h'-' go plateor lcat'swingsindependent of t r aining yoke. These yokes are interc I tie yo e bar, and means 'is provided for interlocking the yoke barwl'th the hinge plate or lee when the cover is in open position,- so

or hook l ack, the series of retaining" yokes' is simultaneously carried over the end of the retaining posts or studs-,i'n' unison with the veznent of the book cover and hingeplate,

thereby releasing the" hinge rod or trunnion pin from its engagement in the notches in the posts and permitting the removal or addition of leaves to the posts or studs.

The object of the invention is'to improve the structure, well as'the means and mode wherein the back or cover may be discon to a series herein reterre'd to as t upon the closing movement of the cover nected to enable the removal or addition of sheets or leaves in minimum space and with-- out the necessity of withdrawing the hinge rod or trunnion pin, which under ordinary circumstances is a rather inconvenient and awkward operation to perform.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interlocking means which will be secure, yet simple and easily operable by meansembodled 1n the structure, without the necessity ofemploying separable implement-s or tools. 7

Vith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more full appear in the specification, the invention consists in the features otconstmctiomthe parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operationor their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referrin to the accomparn in drawin s ....,-f' wherein ls'shown the preferred, but obv1ous ly, not necessarily the only form of embodiment of theinvention', Fig. 1 is aperspect'ive view of an assembled record book, embodying the present invention, from which a portio'n 'ot one back or cover and apo'rtion of the leaves have been torn away to expose to view the operative parts of the binder.

Fig.- 2 is a perspective view of theseveral parts of one of the hinge sections, detached from the book structure and disassembled into its component parts; Fig; 3 is aperspective view of oneof the posts or-studs, upon which the perforated sheets or leaves areassembl'ed Fig. 4.- is adetailperspective view of the locking means tor'the yoke bar. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are plan views of the hinge sections including the retaining yoke bar and trunnion pin in several positions of adjustment. normal relation,- when. the book is closed. Fig. 6 is an interior plan view; that is, with the book cover open. Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the hinge plate disconnected from the'post or stud.

Like parts are indicated-by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the accompanying.drawings, 1-1 indicates the book covers and 2 isthe hack to which the covers are hinged. sheets 3 are removably securetlbetween the covers l1 by being strung upon a series of posts l, which are of somewhat aarcuate form, and are interconnected with the front The leaves or v extend when the structure is assembled.

and rear covers 1-1 on their hinge lines. The sheets 3 are provided with perforations adjacent to their rear edges, which register with the pests l, and through which the posts t extend. To remove or add sheets or leaves 3, it is necessary to disconnect the posts 1 at one end from the connecting cover 1, which permits the perforated sheets or leaves 3 to be passed over the ends of the posts. The posts are positioned with their convex sides directed forwardly or toward the open side of the book, and are provided with notches 5 in the convex face and adjacent to the ends of the post to receive the hinge rod, or trunnion pin, which is laid therein by a yoke extending about the opposite side of the post.

Secured to the inner faces of the book covers 11 by riveting or otherwise, so that it becomes an integral part of the cover is a metallic hinge plate 6. The rearward ed 'e of the hinge plate 6 is formed with a series of notches or recesses 7, registering with the posts 1 and within which the posts The rear margins of the plate 6 is turned upon itself intermediate the notches or recesses 7 to form hinge sleeves 8 to receive an elongated hinge rod or trunnion pin 9. The trunnion pin 9, extending through hinge sleeve 8 from one end of the plate 6 to the other, traverses the notches or recesses 7, within which the pin is exposed. When assembled such exposed portion of the hinge rod or trunnion pin 9 engagesin the open side notches 5 of the posts t. These notc ms 5 being alined with each other, the hinge rod or trunnion pin 9 is movable to and outof the notches by a to and fro shifting movement of the cover 1.

To limit the relative movement of the cover sections 11, and prevent disengagement of the trunnion pin 9 from the notches 5, a series of yokes 10 are provided which are pivoted upon the trunnion pin 9 within the recesses 7, engaging the trunnion pin on opposite sides of the posts 4. By exteno1- ing around the post 1, these yokes 10 hold the trunnion pin within the notches and prevent its disengagement therefrom. In order that the posts t may be engaged and disengaged by a unison movement of the yokes 10, these yokes are interconnected by an intermediate integral tie portion 11, thus forming a continuous integral structure hereinafter referred to as the yoke bar. The yoke bar is spring pressed into extended position, that is. with the yokes 19 extended outwardly and away from the plate 6 by means of helical springs 12, surrounding the trunnion pin 9 and engaging at one end with the yoke bar and at the other with the hinge plate. These springs 12 tend to turn the yoke bar outwardly and downwardly over the ends of the posts 1. The yokes are from. This is the normal relation of the,

parts Whenever the book is open to full extent. However, if the back'is to be disengaged, the yoke bar is interengaged or locked in its relation with the hinge plate when the plate is in such open position as shown in Fig. 6, whereby upon the subsequent closing of the book, the yoke bar will be oscillated in unison with the hinge plate 6 and the yokes will pass over the tops of the posts & thereby disengaging the posts and allowing the trunnion pin 9 to be drawn away from the notches 5. The cover is thereby disengaged and when laid back exposes the end of the post for removal or replacement of sheets 3.

To interlock the hinge plate 6 and yoke bar for suchdisengaging return oscillation, there is provided at a medial point upon the plate a detent member 13, which may be pivoted thereto or may be loosely mounted for sliding or oscillatory movement. In the present instance the detent 13 has been shown provided with an extension or finger 25, loosely engaged within a keeper or loop 26, projecting from the inner face of the plate. The detent 13 is located coincident with an enlarged notch or recess 14, similar to the notches or recesses 7, but of greater 1 iii) extent, and preferably located at the middle of the plate. The yoke bar is provided with a corresponding yoke 15, pivoted upon the trunnion pin 9, as are the yokes 10, and movable into and out of the enlarged notch or recess 14-, as the parts are relatively turned about the trunnion pin. The detent member 13 is provided with a nose or overhanging beak portion 16, which is movable into and out of engagement with a shoulder 17 upon the yoke 15, when the cover is in open position as shown in Fig. 6, with the several yokes 10 and 15, positioned within their respective notches or recesses. The detent is urged into locking engagement with such shoulder, by a compression spring 19, surrounding the pin 9 and bearing against an ear 20 upon the detent. To disengage the detent from its locking engagement with the yoke bar and hold it in its normally retracted position, there is pivoted upon the trunnion pin 9 within the enlarged medial recess 14, an independent bail or yoke 21. The bail or yoke 21 and the yoke bar cm- Of; mu

bodying the yokes 10 "and *ar'e adapted to oscillate about their pivotal'engagement upon the trunnion pin independently of each other. The bail or yoke'21 is provided with a shoulder or lip 22, engageable in a cam notch 23 in the detent member 13. Upon a partial rotation of'the bail or yoke '21 by action of the spring 19-as "hereinafter e2:-

plained, the shoulder or lip 22, by its engagement in the cam notch 23 will retract the detent against the expansive force. of the same spring 19,"t'o withdraw the locking nose or beak 17 and hold the 'detent in its retracted position. The 'detent is thus held ret'ract'edduring the normal use of the book.

When so retracted the hinge plate'o may be I oscillated to and fro independently at the yoke bar. Upon reverse rotary movement-of the bail or yoke 21, wliichis affected manu-- ally the lip or "shoulder 22 is Withdrawn from the cam notch 23 allowing the detent to interlock the yoke bai and hinge plate, so that upon the next closing movement of the I book cover,'thfe yokes lO will "swing over the ends of the posts against the force of spring 12 in unison with the movement of the cover and hinge plate.

' The bail 21 is capable of a limited reciprocatory movement upon "the trunnion rod 9 within the range prescribed by a limiting stop finger 24' bent laterally over the enclosing yoke 15. The 'spri 'ng 19 exerts its tension 'inopposite directions. It; bears against the ear 20 atone endv tendin-g to a shift the detent 13' into engagement with the shoulder 17 of the 'y'oke15,while at the opposite end it tends to shift the bail 21 in the opposite direction and move its shoulder or lip 22 out of registry with thecam notch 23. Furthermore the end of the spring 19 is caught around one ai m 'ofthe bail 21' so that it exerts its torsional influence-to oscillate the shoulder or lip 22 ofthe 'bail2'1 into engagement with the detent By a'slight reciprocation oi the bail 21 inanuallyagainst the tension 01 the spring 19, the shoulder 22 is brought intoalignment with the camnotch 23 into which it enters under the torsional influence of the spring19, and by its camming action retracts the detent 13 to release the yoke bar. Upon turning the bail 21 against the torsional tension of the spring 19 to withdraw the lip '22 from the notch'the det-entis actuated into engaging position by the expansion of the spring 19. r 7 From the above description it will be ap parent that there is thus provided "a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage be'for'e enu merated as desirable, but which obviously'is susceptible of modification in its form, pro-' portions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the advantages.

from the posts.

orinciple involved or sacrificing any of its "While in. order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more orless specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but

that the means'and construction herein disclosed comprises 'the preferred term of several modes of putti-ngthe invention into effect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any *ott'its' terms or modifications within the legitimateand valid scope of the 'appendedclaims.

' -H-aving thus claims p 1. In aloose leaf described "our invention, we

bound, a hinge-plate, a trunnion member 'carried-'-by the hinge plate and havingzlatera-.1 engagement with the posts, a plurality -fot-'-retaining yokes pivoted upon the t'nnn ni'on member and normally-enclosing the posts to retain the engagement of said pants, the yoke and hinge plate being independently movable in relation with eachother,

and means for interlocking i the yokes sand "hinge plate for unison movement into -disbinder, a' Pill-Talley ofbinding post'storeceive the leaves :to bea hinge plate, a trunnion. member tent engageable with the yokeswhen the hinge plate is oscillatedtoopen position and by which theyokes are' carried over the ends of the posts upon return oscillation of the-hinge jplate to-frelease thehinge plate -'3. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts to receive the wlealves':to"be bound, a hinge plate detachably engageable with the posts for oscillatory movement to and fro, means for interlocking the :hinge plate with the posts independent of which the plate normally oscillates, and-means for interlocking 't-heretaining means and plate.

for unison movement by which the retaining'me'ans 1s dlsengaged from the posts by OSClllSLtOIY movement of the hinge plate.

l. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts, a hinge plate, a yoke bar deta'c'hably connecting the plate with the posts for oscillatory movement independent'of the yokebar, a detent forintenlo'cking the hinge plate and yoke bar when the hinge plate is" in one position of adjustment for unison movement by which the yoke bar is disengag'ed from the posts upon return oscillation of the hinge plate.

5.'In a loose leaf binder,a plurality of binding posts, a hinge plate, a yoke bar detachably connecting the plate with the posts for oscillatory movement independent of the yoke bar, a spring pressed detent for interlocking the yoke bar and hinge plate for unison movement to disengaged position.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts, a hinge plate, a yoke bar detachably connecting the plate with the posts for oscillatory movement independent of the yoke bar, a spring pressed detent for interlocking the yoke bar and plate, and manually operable means for normally holding the detent inoperative and for releasing the detent for effecting unison movement of the yoke and plate to disengaged position.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts, a hinge plate, a yoke bar detachably connecting the plate with the posts for oscillatory movement independent of the yoke bar, a stop shoulder upon the yoke bar, a detent movable into and out of engagement with the stop shoulder, and an independently manually operated control member having cam engagement with the detent, the yoke bar and plate being interengaged by the detent for unison movement to disengaged relation with the posts.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of posts upon which perforated leaves are strung, said posts being laterally notched, a hinge plate attached to a cover section, a trunnion rod carried by the hing-e plate and engageable laterally in the notches of the posts, and yokes carried by the trunnion rod and surrounding the posts to hold the rod within the notches. I

9. In a loose leaf binder, a series of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, a hinged cover section laterally engageable with the binding posts for to and fro oscillatory movement, and retaining members engageable over the ends of the posts for detachably securing the hinged cover section in lateral engagement with the posts.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a series of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, a hinged cover section a trunnion rod upon which the cover section is hinged, and laterally engageable with the binding posts to enable to and fro oscillatory movement of the latter, and an additional mem-.

ber for simultaneously engaging and disengaging the several posts to hold them in their relation with the trunnion rod.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, a hinged section laterally engageable with the posts, for to and fro movement, and a series of yokes, one for each post carried by the hinged section and detachably enclosing the posts to maintain operative engagement of the hinged section therewlth.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts to receive the leavesto be bound, a hinged section laterally engageable with the posts, for to .and fro movement, and a series of interconnected yokes carried by the hinge and detachably engaging the posts to maintain the lateral engagement of the hinged section therewith, said interconnected yokes being operable in unison to connect and disconnect the posts and hinged section.

13. An arcuate binding post for a loose leaf binder, having inwardly convergent lateral notches adjacent to its opposite ends and upon the convex side of the arcuate post into and out of which a round trunnion may freely pass.

14. A binding post for a loose leaf binder having semi-circular lateral notches adjacent to its opposite ends for loose sealing engagement of a trunnion member upon a cover section.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, said posts having notch-es therein to receive a trunnion member ofa hinged cover, a trunnion rod upon a cover section engageable laterally within the notches of the posts, and retaining yokes pivotally engaging the trunnion rod upon the opposite side of the respective posts and extending about the posts to detachably hold the rod within the notches.

16. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, said posts having notches therein to receive a trunnion member, of a hinged cover, a trunnion rod upon a cover section engageable laterally within the notches of the posts, and retaining yokes pivotally engaging the trunnion rod upon the opposite side of the respective posts and extending about the posts to detachably hold the rod within the notches and means to effect the simultaneous oscillation of the yokes over the ends of the posts to release the posts from the rod.

17. A hinge leaf for a loose'leaf binder comprising a swinging plate for attachment to the binder cover having in the marginal edge a series of notches adapted to register with a plurality of binding posts, over the edge of which the plate is adapted to be turned to and fro the margin of the plate intermediate the notches being turned upon itself to form a succession of hinge sleeves, a trunnion rod engaged therein traversing the notches and laterally engaged by the posts in an inwardly facing relation with the notches in one position of the swinging plate, and in outwardly facing relation with the notches in reverse position of the plate.

18. In a loose leaf bind-er, .a plurality of binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, and having lateral notches in their faces outwardly directed toward the open side of the binder and adjacent to their ends, a hinge leaf comprising a swinging plate having marginal notches registering with the posts and within Which the posts project trunnion carried by the hinge leaf and trav ersing the notches thereof, said trunnion having lateral engagement in the outwardly directed notches of the posts, and means for detachably retaining said trunnion within the post notches.

19. In a loose leaf binder, a pluralityof binding posts to receive the leaves to be bound, and having lateral notches therein, a hinge plate having notches registering with the posts, a trunnion rod carried by the plate and traversing the notchesthereof, said rod being laterally engageable in the notches of the posts a yoke bar comprising a series of yokes one for each post pivoted upon the trunnion rod and enclosing the posts to hold the rod within the notches in the posts, said y-okes being spring-pressed into engagement with the posts.

20. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding posts, a hinge plate detachably connected with the posts for oscillatory movement, a retaining member normally engaging the posts to hold the hinge plate in close relation therewith, said hinge plate being normally movable to and fro independent of the retaining member, and means for interlocking the retaining member with the hinge plate for unison oscillation to release the posts.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 16th day of October A. D. 1923. a

HENRY o. CLARK. LOUIS s. CLARK. v 

